Chinooks Pull Out a 3-2 Win Over the Green Bay Bullfrogs

The Lakeshore Chinooks took on the Green Bay Bullfrogs for a home and away set on Monday night at Kapco Park. Tonight’s game was a low scoring battle between the two teams but the Lakeshore Chinooks pulled out a 3-2 win keeping them at the top of the South Division.

The Chinooks had an early scare in the bottom of the 1^st inning. The first two Bullfrog batters reached base on singles, but starter Chris Rubio (Concordia Irvine) was able to force an infield pop-out and strike out the last two batters getting out of an early jam.

The Chinooks then took advantage of a pair of Bullfrog errors in the bottom of the 1^st inning. Brant Valach (Eastern Illinois) reached on an error. Then Ryan Krill (MSU) hit a flare single to left field that bounced over the left fielder which resulted in Valach to score and give the Chinooks an early 1-0 lead.

The Bullfrogs jumped early once again in the top of the 2^nd inning having runners on 2^nd and 3^rd base with one out. Designated hitter Godinez knocked in the tying run on an RBI groundout to the shortstop knotting the score up 1-1.

Aaron Machbitz (South Dakota State) started off the bottom of the 5^th inning reaching on error following was Mike Hollenbeck (Illinois State) who walked. Cody Bobbit (Wichita State) moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt. Chris Manning (Valparaiso) brought home Machbitz with an RBI groundout to second base and gaining a 2-1 lead after 5 innings of play.

Hollenbeck led off the bottom of the 7^th inning with a bomb off the left field wall that resulted in a double. After Hollenbeck advanced to third base, Manning knocked in Hollenbeck on an RBI single passed the shortstop to take a 3-1 lead to wrap up the 7^th inning.  

The Bullfrogs took advantage of a lead-off walk, two wild pitches and throwing error making the score 3-2 in the top of the 8^th inning. The second batter of the inning hit what looked to be an easy ground out but the second error of the inning gave the Bullfrogs another base runner. The Bullfrogs advanced the runner to third, but with two outs Karch Kowalczyk (Valparaiso) retired the final batter of the inning maintaining the 3-2 lead.

Starter Chris Rubio (Concordia Irvine) had a great outing on the mound. He allowed one run on six hits and struck out six Bullfrog batters. The first two innings the Bullfrogs jumped on him fast, but he kept his composure and got out of the jams.

Rubio commented on his outing, “Early on, I let a couple guys get on base and I left the ball out over the plate.” Rubio made some game changing adjustments that led to a 3-2 win. “I felt good, my change-up and slider were working which resulted in getting ahead in the count and a strike out here and there.”

The division leading Chinooks (13-6) head to Green Bay to finish up their home/away series with the Bullfrogs Tuesday, June 18th. They come back to Kapco Park on Wednesday, June 19^th as they take on the Battle Creek Bombers at 6:35 PM. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Bruce Froemming Bobblehead and we will be hosting the Highland House Concert Series featuring Pat McCurdy!